-A procurement exercise took place March to May 2020 to appoint an appropriate partner for this part of the project, to install Air Source Heat Pumps in eligible fuel poor private household residences, however although contracts were awarded for LPG and Ground Source Heat Pump solutions, there were no submissions in the relevant lot for ASHPs.
-There are a number of eligible households currently on the waiting list for the project, in which the most suitable technology has been determined as ASHP. Subsequent discussions with project partner, Shropshire Council, have revealed a potential installation partner for this area, Communitas Energy CIC (Communitas), who can deliver the services required.
-A waiver of standing orders has been obtained through the relevant approvals to grant this contract via seal approval.
-Warm Homes Fund projects seek to alleviate fuel poverty for eligible residents in the county via the installation of more efficient and economic heating systems;
-Fuel Poverty affects around 10,862 households in the county (12.9%). This figure is higher than the national level and reflects the challenges that the county faces in relation to the energy efficiency of properties including a large proportion of older, hard to treat properties and restricted access to mains gas due to the rural nature of the county
-Decreasing fuel poverty can be linked to increasing housing standards as well as health and wellbeing.
-Housing also accounts for around a quarter of the County’s carbon dioxide emissions and therefore by helping to improve the energy efficiency of heating systems in properties, the Warm Homes Fund projects will contribute to climate change reduction targets.